Yet only a precious few stand the test of time and become enduring guitar gods.

Randy Rhoads was one such player. Joining forces with singer Ozzy Osbourne in 1979, Rhoads burst onto the metal scene like a bolt from the blue.

He was blessed with dazzling chops and an innate comprehension of music theory, and his style had a perfect blend of flash and melodic structure.

Flowing legato sections segued to impossibly fast, palm-muted picking passages; incendiary trills and daring chromatic maneuvers coexisted with classically influenced melodies—all of which were derived from a seemingly inexhaustible supply of scales and arpeggios and laid out across an ever-shifting rhythmic landscape.

What's more, Rhoads was so precise that he could seamlessly double-track anything he played, for maximum sonic density.

Sadly, only three recordings—Blizzard of Ozz, Diary of a Madman, and Tribute—captured Rhoads' genius before a tragic airplane crash, in 1982, cut his life short. But the musicianship that lies within those grooves is as stunning and inspirational today as it was then.

Sequences and Scales

Rhoads would often sprinkle a solo with a flurry of pentatonic pull-offs such as those in Fig.1. Built from the A minor pentatonic scale (A-C-D-E-G), this lick is inspired both by the opening moments of the first solo in "Mr. Crowley" and by the fill just before the last verse of "I Don't Know." It's interesting to note that while Rhoads possessed the facility to rip through lines such as these using alternate picking, he often chose a legato approach for a smoother, more flowing outcome.

Fig. 2 features a three-notes-per-string legato scale run inspired by the solos in "Crazy Train," "Suicide Solution," and "Mr. Crowley." This line zips up the A natural minor scale (A-B-C-D-E-F-G) in a blinding flash of hammer-ons. Make sure you hammer firmly onto every second and third note, striving for equal volume of the pick attacks.

Blues Licks and Mixed Scales

Rhoads was fond of the blues scale (1-f3-4- f5-5-f7), and often milked its flatted 5th for all it was worth. For example, notice the emphasis on the Bf in Fig. 3A, an E blues (E-G-A-Bf- B-D) lick inspired by the opening phrases of the "I Don't Know" solo. Rhoads often mixed blues-scale licks with diatonic scales, and modes such as Aeolian (natural minor), Phrygian (1-f2-f3-4-5-f6-f7), and harmonic minor (1-2-f3-4-5-f6-7).

Chromaticism is another hallmark of Rhoads's soloing style. His chromatic techniques ran the gamut from the simple use of tension tones (notes that lie outside of pentatonic and diatonic scales) all the way to full-blown chromatically modulating passages such as the ones found in Figs. 4A-B.

Fig. 4A is similar to a move Rhoads used in "S.A.T.O.," where a minor-3rd hammer- on is moved down in half steps. Notice that the lick starts on two solid chord tones (G and E, the f3rd and root), then chromatically targets two resolving tones (D and B, the f7th and 5th). Fig. 4B features one of Rhoads's pet motifs: a descending fournote slice of a scale pattern—in this case, F-E-D-C of the D minor scale (D-E-F-G- A-Bf-C). Ascending chromatically, the palm-muted quadruplets hit sonic fruition with an Af-G-F sequence over the Fm chord.

Fig. 5 features another of the guitarist's favorite chromatic ploys, this one involving major and minor triads, along with partial 7th-chord arpeggios, moving along the top two strings.

In this example, an A minor triad (A-C-E) moves up in half steps, then segues to the upper portion of an Am7 arpeggio (A-C-E-G), which also ascends chromatically. Fig. 6 breaks the bounds of chromaticism with a pick-tapped trill that ascends in pitch via a gradual bend executed with the fret hand's 4th finger. Notice that, again, the example begins and ends on solid chord tones (G# and B [3rd and 5th], and B and D [5th and f7th]).

Tapping and Trills

Unlike many of his peers in the early Eighties, Rhoads avoided jumping on Eddie Van Halen's tapping bandwagon. When he did choose to tap, though, the results were stunning, as the sequence in Fig.7 reveals. In the style of the breathtaking climax of the "Flying High Again" solo, the example follows a double-tap/pull-off/hammer-on sequence constructed from triads that outline the changes. Some of the most dazzling Randy Rhoads moments are often mistaken for tapped excursions.

One such passage is the open string- pull-off extravaganza that occurs midway though his solo in the live version of "Suicide Solution," where he dispatches a sizzling array of triads and partials along the 1st [Fig. 8] and 2nd strings.

Rhoads also had a penchant for classically influenced trills (two notes played in rapid alternation). He would use them to outline the chord tones of specific changes, as seen in Fig. 9, where the notes of an Ff7 arpeggio (F-Af-Cf-D) are alternated with notes a half step below.

The Solo

The solo [Fig.10] is a 15-bar rocker in the style of songs like "I Don't Know," "Flying High Again," and "Crazy Train." The first half (measures 1-8) sits firmly in the key of F# minor, riding a i-fVI-fVII-i-fIII-iv-Vsus-V progression (F#m-D-E-F#m-A-Bm-C#7sus4-C#). Measures 9-12 serve as a bridge, with modulating I-vi cadences (D-Bm and E-C#m) in the temporary keys of D and E major. Measure 13 signals a march back up (fVI- fVII-v-i; D-E-C#m-F#m) to the resolving i-fVII-i (F#m-E-F#m) chordal riff.

The solo opens, in typical Rhoadsian fashion, with a head-turning pinch-harmonic bend. To execute this two-octave harmonic, attack the G string aggressively with the side of your pick, simultaneously brushing the string with the side of your pick hand's thumb; the ideal position for this contact is right above the rear edge of the neck pickup.

Next comes a pull-off flurry made up of F# blues and F# Aeolian scales, followed by a tremolo- picked E major pentatonic (E-F#-G#- B-C#) climb. (Tremolo picking, in which notes are picked as rapidly and continuously as possible, was another Rhoads staple). An F# minor pentatonic (F#-A-B-C#-E) wrapup (measure 4) mirrors the opening lick.

The fireworks in measures 9-10 are inspired by the open-string pull-off concepts described in Fig. 8. Accenting the first and fourth note in each sextuplet should give you the propulsion needed for this rapid passage. A six-note pattern—down five scale steps, then up one—lies at the heart of the E major pentatonic phrase in measure 11. Visualize the pattern before putting the entire phrase together. In measure 12 a C#m7 arpeggio is laid out almost entirely on the G string; keep your eye on the 9th fret in order to hit it precisely.

The trills come fast and furious in the next measure. Targeting the notes of a D major triad (D-F#-A) will guide you through this quarter-note-triplet passage. Finally, a relatively simple run up the E major pentatonic scale and a pair of dyads (F#/C# and E/B) provide a logical and musical conclusion to the solo. Now that we've gone through the solo bit by bit, look back over it and take note of its the rhythmic diversity—yet another characteristic of Rhoads's brilliant soloing work.

Comments

DLM66 get your facts right randy was bot flying the plane at all there were 3 in the plane . Andrew Aycock was flying Rhoads and makeup artist Rachel Youngblood. botched the third attempt. At approximately 10 AM, after being in the air for approximately five minutes,[17] one of the plane's wings clipped the top of the tour bus, breaking the wing into two parts and sending the plane spiraling out of control.[19] The initial impact with the bus caused Rhoads's and Youngblood's heads to crash through the plane's windshield.[16] The plane then severed the top of a pine tree and crashed into the garage of a nearby mansion, bursting into flames.[5] Keyboardist Don Airey was the only member of the band to witness the crash, as the rest were asleep in the bus.[5] Rhoads was killed instantly, as were Aycock (36) and Youngblood (58). All three bodies were burned beyond recognition, and Rhoads was identified by dental records and personal jewelry

Cool thing also was Randy wasn't a dick head there's way too many geetarist that got their heads up their arses and think that jazz or classical or fill the blank is the only music. In order to be a truly great musician you have to really listen to lots of different styles

When Randy first came onto the scene I immediately assumed he was a Van Halen clone. Man was I ever wrong Randy's solos speak way more then Eddies. Randy could actually apply theory and composition. Which isn't a knock to Eddie but two different schools completely. Eddie was more improvised and bluesy. Randy's were like fiery cadenzas custom fit to each song. That's one of the reasons I think people like Slash blow.

I would buy Diary of a Madman and Blizzard of Oz if I were you. You can get em cheap at Best buy. Spend time just listening and then play along at reasonable volume. It will improve your playing a lot and its fun as hell

@hkphooey: I can't tell if you were riding in a car or if you think Randy was. For anyone who may be unaware, Randy was riding in a small plane when he was killed so senselessly. The pilot was "buzzing" the tour bus, which is to say dipping toward the bus with one wing just missing. Unfortunately, on the last attempt, the wing clipped the bus, sending the plane into a nearby house, exploding and killing all 3 passengers, including Randy. It's still difficult to absorb the reality of this senseless tragedy, even thirty years later. Three lives gone in a matter of seconds, from one very poor decision by the pilot. So sad.

Randy was flying the plane.I'm not sure if there were any passengers on board though.Numerous musicians have died due to plane and helicopter crashes.Skynyrd,Stevie Ray,Buddy Holly,Richie Valens,just to name a couple.

What happened to the Hendrix and BB King soloing strategy pages? I have been trying to bring those pages up since March and it says you are not authorized. So I made an account, and still can't get to those pages.

What Rhoads has and many technically proficient guitarists miss in the ability to convey emotion in his playing and soloing. I remember hearing of his accident riding in a car many years back and was deeply affected. He is, without question, one of the best guitarists that has walked the earth.

RANDY RHOADS IS ONE OF THE BEST GUITARRIST PLAYERS IN THE HISTORY OF THE MUSIC.
VERY GOOD ARTICLE TOM, I THINK YOU ARE A VERY GOOD GUITARRIST TOO.
COULD YOU DO AN ARTICLE ABOUT JHON FRUSCIANTE OF THE "RED HOT CHILLI PEPPERS"?.
A LOT OF THANKS FOR THE LESSON AND TAKE CARE.

fysz (not verified)

October 09, 2008 at 5:02pm

No doubt that randy was the best guitarist on this earth, he's uncomperable to any other guitarist, and in my mind still lives on. Randy truly is, the god of rock and metal music.

The work of randy has done alot for music in ways that we will allmost never know,he opened my eyes and so many more,his understanding of scales and theory and skill i dont think will be matched.And what bothers me is,we dont know how far he would of took it.

Randy Rhoads was and is a genuine staple of the diversity of guitar. He always pushed himself into uncharted musical territory and changed the way we hear guitar today. He is truly a guitar hero. I can only imagine what he would be creating in our present time!

Randy Rhoads is one of the best guitar players I have ever hear, after hearing him play I knew that I wanted to be like him, he is the one that inspired me to pick up the guitar. I truly love playing stuff by Randy Rhoads because I love his style. awsome!Listen to only good music, I'll live longer.